NBSIR 73-240

Effects of Eiectroless Nickel

Process Variables on

Quality Requirements

Fielding Ogburn

Christian E. Johnson

Corrosion and Electrodeposition Section

Metallurgy Division

Institute for Materials Research

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

June 1973

Annual Progress Report

March 1972-June 1973

Prepared for Research Directorate

Thomas J. Rodman Laboratory

Rock Island Arsenal

Rock Island, Illinois 61201

NBSIR 73-240

EFFECTS OF ELECTROLESS NICKEL

PROCESS VARIABLES ON

QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

Fielding Ogburn

Christian E. Johnson

Corrosion and Electrodeposition Section

Metallurgy Division

Institute for Materials Research

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

June 1973

Annual Progress Report

March 1972-June 1973

Prepared for Research Directorate

Thomas J, Rodman Laboratory

Rock Island Arsenal

Rock Island, Illinois 61201

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Frederick B. Dent. Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS. Richard W. Roberts, Director

ABSTRACT

Deposition rate, phosphorus content, hardness, appearance, and metal distribution are reported for deposits from two acid, hypophosphi te type

electroless nickel baths, one proprietary and one non-proprietary. The

baths were operated under a variety of conditions with variations of

composition. Extensive data is given on the relation of deposit hardness to phosphorus content and to heat treatment at 100, 200, and 400°C.

Objective

The general objective of the project under which this work was done was

to determine how characteristics of electroless nickel coatings are influenced by the operating variables of the process. The operating

variables were to extend to levels outside the normal operating ranges.

In this report we include deposits from a non-proprietary acid bath and

one proprietary bath. Appearance, structure, plating rate, phosphorus

content, hardness, heat treatment, and thickness uniformity of the deposits are discussed. The hardness data in conjunction with heat treatment is fairly extensive.

Solutions Used

Many of the electroless nickel (Ni-P) deposits were obtained from a solution similar to those reported by Brenner [IJ:

NiCl2 • 6H2O 30 g/1

Sodium hypophosphi te 10 g/1

Sodium hydroxyacetate 50 g/1

As prepared, this solution has a pH of about 6.6; but with use, the pH

quickly drops to the buffered range of about 4.0-4.5. Normally the process was operated at or close to 96°C.

One proprietary solution was also used. This is not identified in this

report, but is designated as bath A. Except as otherwise indicated, this was operated in accordance with the vendor's instructions.

Plating Cell

The basic plating cell was a glass cylinder of perhaps 1.1 liter capacity

containing 1 liter of solution. This was immersed in a water-ethyl ene

glycol bath which was heated by a hot plate, a quartz immersion heater,

and/or an infrared lamp. An automatic temperature control kept the

temperature constant to within a degree centigrade for most of the experiments. Agitation, when used, was provided by air from fritted glass

disks at the bottom of the container, or a rotating magnetic stirrer.
2

Continuous filtration was used for the proprietary solutions. The approx-

- imately 1 liter of solution was pumped through a 15 ym cartridge filter

at the rate of 10 liters/hour. This, of course, provided additional

agitation.

Schedule of Deposits

Much of the data obtained is summarized in Tables 1 and 2. Those data

which had questionable validity or did not appear to be significant for

the purposes of this report are not included.

Unless otherwise noted, the solution was freshly prepared for each deposit. Additions were made continuously to the Brenner solution to maintain the nickel and hypophosphi te concentrations within about 10% of the

initial levels and the pH was maintained by the addition of ammonium

hydroxide. Where a pH range is given with 6.6 as the maximum, the pH was not adjusted at any time. That is, the pH was 6.6 as made up and decreased

with use. The pH of the replenishment solution was in the neighborhood

of 6.6 and hence, there was, in effect, a continuous addition of higher

pH solution.

The proprietary bath was maintained as recommended by the vendor with

continuous addition of replenishment solutions and continual pH adjustment

with ammonium hydroxide. There were two replenishment solutions: Part

B containing the hypophosphi te and Part C containing nickel and stabilizers.

Several of the deposits were obtained with other than the standard or normal solution and operating conditions. Some of the variations are indicated in Table 1; others are indicated here.

Deposits 1 to 7 were obtained successively from the same solution. The

solution was filtered and the pH adjusted to 4.5 between each run. When

deposit 7 was started, the bath had been operated 45 hours and there was

an accumulation of phosphite equivalent to 12.6 g/1 of sodium phosphite.

Deposit 16 was obtained with no replenishment of the solution.

10 g/1 of sodium phosphite had been added to the bath from which deposit

24 was obtained.

Deposits 34-36 were obtained successively from the same bath.

During deposition of #37, the bath started to decompose after about 2

hours. Deposit 41 was subsequently deposited from the same bath.

38 and 39 were obtained successively from the same bath and 42-45 from

another bath.

46, 47, and 48 were operated normally except that no replenishment with

Part C was made. Each bath started with a nickel concentration of 1.2
3

oz/gal

Deposit

Time

hr

Final Nickel

Concentration

(oz/gal)

46

47

48

3-1/4

5

5

0.88

0.82

0.88

Deposits 49 and 50 were obtained from the same bath as #48 with the

nickel concentration maintained at 0.88 oz/gal with Part C.

Deposits 52-56 were from the same bath operated with different levels of

hypophosphi te (Part B) concentration. More details are supplied in the

discussion of the effects of hypophosphi te concentration on phosphorus

content of the deposits.

Decomposition

After a few hours of operation of the Brenner bath, bubbles of hydrogen

begin to form at isolated points on the walls and bottom of the container especially along scratches. This occurs at more and more points with

time, and nickel deposits become evident where gassing has occurred.

This eventually progresses to the point where the bath becomes virtually

useless. This decomposition or instability is favored by high pH, high

temperature, high hypophosphite, and accumulated phosphite in the bath.

Stabilizers are usually added to proprietary baths to prevent or retard

this process. With bath A the instability showed up as rapid formation

of finely divided particles throughout the bath. This occurred after

several hours of operation with filtration but without replenishment of

Part C containing stabilizers and nickel salts. It also started to occur

after two hours of operation of bath A at a higher than normal pH of 5.2.

Plating Rate

It is well known that the plating rate is dependent on the solution com- position and pH and on the solution temperature. A decrease in nickel

concentration, hypophosphite concentration, pH, or temperature will de- crease the deposition rate. Such decreases are normally expected as a plating bath is used unless steps are taken to replenish the solution

^or to maintain its temperature.

Rate data is given in Table 1. These were estimated from micrometer

measurements or from weight changes assuming a density of 7.85 g/cm3.

In the literature [2] there is a rule of thumb for the acid type of

electroless nickel solution that a 10°C change of temperature will change

the plating rate by a factor of 2. This was essentially substantiated by
4

a series of rate measurements during deposition from the Brenner solution.

Specimen Temperature Plating Weight of Rate of Deposition*

Time Deposit

20 50°C 71 hr 2.051 g 0.71 urn g/hr 0.028 mil/hr

22 60- 44 2.593 1.45 0.057

21 70 21 2.421 2.85 0.11

23 80 10 2.237 5.3 0.22

13 95 4-1/2 2.855 15.7 0.62

For each of these measurements a fresh bath was used and continuous

additions of hypophosphite and nickel chloride were made to maintain the

composition within 10% of the original nickel and hypophosphite concentrations. The initial pH was 6.6 and the final was 4.3-4.5.

Appearance and Surface Roughness

With prolonged operation of a Brenner solution without continuous filtration, the upward facing surfaces of a deposit become rough. Apparently,

microscopic particles or sediment form in the solution and settle out on the work surfaces causing roughness. Eventually nickel particles are observed on the walls of the container and the nickel deposition slowly

gets out of hand.

This roughening is the only detrimental change in appearance that has been

observed for deposits from the Brenner bath. Roughness could probably

be prevented by continuous filtration.

In the case of bath A, failure to use the replenisher solution (Part C)

containing stabilizers resulted in violent decomposition of the bath with

precipitation of finely divided particles even though it was being con- tinuously filtered. This resulted after several hours of operation during

which time the deposit was getting duller but not rough. The deposit

would probably have gotten rough if it were allowed to remain in the bath

after decomposition began. It appears that a "bright" electroless nickel

will lose its brightness if the bath is not properly maintained.

When the Brenner bath was operated at low temperature, the deposit was substantially brighter than normal. The effect was noticeable even at

80°C as compared with 95°C.

Structure and Composition

Electroless nickel deposits, prior to heat treatment, do not have a grain

structure which can be seen microscopically. If properly etched, however,

a cross section will exhibit a banded or striated appearance. This is

Density assumed to be 7.85 [3].
5

associated with variations in the phosphorus content and has been mentioned in the literature. This interpretation of the striations was verified

by scanning a cross section for phosphorus with an electron probe. The

dark layers or more heavily etched layers corresponded with layers of low

phosphorus content. This is described more fully in Appendix A which

has been submitted to Plating for publication as a technical note.

Phosphorus Content

Usually a weighed sample of the electroless nickel was analyzed only for

nickel by the conventional dimethylgloxime method. The remainder was considered to be phosphorus. Early in the investigation, the phosphorus

was also determined gravimetrical ly as ammonium phosphomolybdate.

Because the nickel and phosphorus determinations added up to 100.0±0.1%,

the more difficult phosphorus analysis was usually omitted.

The phosphorus content of a number of deposits was determined because

of its recognized importance to their mechanical properties. Its

dependence on solution pH is well recognized and the Electroplating

Engineering Handbook [6] indicates that increasing the hypophosphi te or phosphite concentration in the bath also favors increased phosphorus

in the deposit.

The data in Table 1 are in agreement with these observations. The effect

of pH is illustrated by deposits 14 and 19. With a pH range of 4.2-4.5,

the deposit was 10.1% P. At the higher pH range of 4.5-6.6, the phosphorus was lower at 8.7%.

Comparison of deposits 7 and 14 show the effect of accumulated phosphite

in the bath. Deposit #7 was from a bath which had been used for about

45 hours and had accumulated phosphite equivalent to 12.6 g/1 of sodium

phosphite. (Deposits 1 through 6 came from the same bath with filtration

and pH adjustment at the end of each run and continuous addition of

nickel and hypophosphi te replenishment solution). Deposit 7 was 11.1% P.

The effect of accumulation of phosphite in bath A is shown by deposits

42-45. The phosphorus in the deposits increased from 7.4 to 9.6% P during 19 hours of operation of the bath with replenishment as recommended.

The effect of hypophosphi te content of the bath is illustrated by

deposits 42, 43, and 55 (normal hypophosphi te content), deposits 53

and 54 (low hypophosphi te content), and deposit 56 (high hypophosphi te

content). Deposits 42 and 43 were successive deposits from a new bath

A and were 7.4 and 8.2% P respectively. Another new bath A was operated

9 hours in the normal manner but without addition of the Part B replenishment solution (Deposit 52). At the end of the 9 hours, chemical

analysis indicated 2.1 f 1 . oz/gal of the Part B reducing solution. The

normal concentration is about 9 f1 . oz/gal. Deposits 53 and 54 with 7.0%

and 7.2% P were obtained from the same solution over a period of 24-1/4

hours during which time normal replenishment with Part B was made to hold

the hypophosphi te concentration constant. The hypophosphi te concentration
was then restored by addition of Part B to the 9 f 1 . oz/gal level and

deposit 55 was obtained over 5-1/3 hours. The last deposit, #56, with

10.1% P, was obtained during 5 hours of operation with normal Part B replenishment, but after bringing the reducing level to 13.7 f 1 . oz/gal.

The association of phosphorus content with reducer level is obvious.

Deposit Time % P Part B hr (Reducer) Level

fl oz/gal

New Bath A:

42 4-1/2 7.6 9

43 4 8.2 9

Another New Bath A without Continuous

Replenishment with Part B:

52 9 - 9-2.1

Continuous Replenishment of Depleted

Bath with Part B:

53 12-1/4 7.0 2.1

54 12 7.2 2.1

Normal Concentration of Reducer Restored:

55 5-1/3 8.7 9.0

Concentration of Reducer Increased:

56 5 10.1 13.7
7

The relation of phosphorus to temperature of deposition is also of interest.

Bath

Tpmnprf^ tii rp

°c

Dp nn^ i 1" i on

Ti1 IIImpic hr

Rfltp nf ^pno'^ition

minil 1lo/<?/hr 111

7o P

20 50 71 0.03 12.5

22 60 44 0.06 11.9

21 70 21 0.1 11.1

23 80 9-1/2 0.2 10.0

19 96 5-1/2 0.5 8.7

The deposition time was selected so that the deposit thickness for each

would be about the same. It is apparent that the phosphorus content is

related to the deposition temperature. Part of the effect might be due

to build up of phosphite during the longer runs at low temperature, but

this seems unlikely. The amount of nickel deposited would not have

differed much from run to run and the phosphite build-up would probably

be about the same each time.

For each of these measurements, a fresh bath was used and continuous

addition of a replenishment solution was made to maintain the solution

composition within 10% of the original nickel and hypophosphi te concentrations. The initial pH was 6.6 and the final was 4.3-4.5.

Hardness Measurement

All hardness measurements were made with a Knoop indenter using a Wilson

microhardness tester. The indentations were made on cross sections with

the long axis parallel to the substrate. The location of the indentation

was such that it was not influenced by the proximity of either boundary

of the deposit or of another indentation. Some indentations led to the

formation of microcracks particularly with loads of 500 g. These were not

measured for hardness values and new indentations were made with a lighter

load.

The specimens for hardness measurement were mounted in an epoxy cement

cured at room temperature so as to avoid any heat effects. The heat involved in normal mounting in Bakelite or Lucite would have had serious

effects on the subsequent hardness measurements. After grinding and polishing, the specimens were etched just sufficiently to bring out indications

of the usual striations. Heavier etching leads to low hardness values and

can be seriously misleading. Even such a light etch has significant effects.

Unfortunately this was not realized until after most of the measurements

reported here had been made. Light polishing after the light etch may in- crease the measured hardness by about 35 units when a load of 100 g is

used. This technique was followed for deposit 34 and all subsequent deposits.

The hardness values reported for all preceeding deposits have been increased

by 35 units.
8

Each hardness value reported is the average of one measurement of each

six indentations. The cross sectional specimen was about 1/2 inch long

and three indentations were made near edther end. All measurements were

made after the operator had checked his technique with a standard hardness block. The precision of the operator's measurements was the subject

of a brief evaluation. The standard deviation for a single measurement

was 1.4% and for an average of six measurements it was 0.57% based on 430 degrees of freedom. This precision is meaningful only for measurements on a single specimen such as measurements before and after various

heat treatments. It is not a measure of the reproducibility of specimens

and is not applicable when comparing one specimen with another.

The hardness of an electroless nickel deposit is not uniform. It varies

from place to place, presumably as the composition or phosphorus content

varies. This was evident when the hardness of a lightly etched specimen

was measured on both a dark (etched) band and on a light band. The etched

band measured 526 HK200 and the light band measured 483 HK200- Smaller,

but significant differences were also noted between the two ends of

several mounted specimens. As noted earlier, three measurements were made

at either end of each specimen and the indentations were made in the same position relative to the banded etch pattern.

Initially, hardness measurements were made with a 500 g load. Later it was found that some of the specimens which had been heat tested at 400°C

cracked when the indentation was made. It was found that with a 100 g

load cracking was not a problem and all subsequent measurements were made

with a 100 g load.

In order to convert our own data from one load to another, a number of

specimens in several different hardness ranges were measured with 25, 50,

100, 200, and 500 g loads. This data was combined to produce a graph

(Figure 1) which could be used to convert data for one load to values

approximating what would have been obtained at another load. Such a conversion graph has been helpful, but its use, even by the same operator

using the same equipment, introduces some error. The use of this specific

graph by another laboratory would be questionable. Too much depends on the surface preparation of the specimen, on the operator's technique, and

on the hardness measuring equipment. The hardness data of Table 2 is all

for a load of 100 g. Most of the data was obtained using a load of 100 g,

but some of it as indicated in the table was obtained at a greater load and

converted to that for the 100 g load.

Hardness Data

The hardness data is summarized in Table 2. It includes hardness of as plated deposits and of deposits which had been treated at 100, 200, and

400°C for various times.

The hardness of electroless nickel, as-plated, without heat treatment,

usually does not show much variation. The Electroplating Engineering
9

Handbook [6] gives the range as 500±50 DPH. Several investigators have

recognized a relationship between the hardness of the deposit and its

phosphorus content. Graham et al [4] reported that for a specific well

controlled alkaline bath, the hardness of the deposits decreased from

560 to 530 KHN as the phosphorus content increased from about 4.5% to

9.5%. Randin and Hinterman [5] using an acid solution show a pronounced

minimum in the hardness at about 6.3% phosphorus. Their relationship

was quite different from that of Graham et al

The data for as-plated deposits given in Table 2 is summarized in Figure

2 where the hardness is plotted against the phosphorus content. These

data include deposits from bath A and the Brenner bath, all of which were operated at more than one composition and several different operating

conditions. Thus these data represent a variety of electroless nickel

deposits. The scatter of the data is, in part, due to the nonuniformity

of each deposit and to imprecision of measurement. Another very likely

cause of the scatter is that some feature or features of electroless

nickel other than phosphorus content, influences the hardness.

It appears that for phosphorus concentrations above 7%, variations of

phosphorus are of little practical consequence to hardness. Below 7%,

the indication is that the phosphorus has much more to do with the hardness. More data, however, is needed for this phosphorus range.

Heat treatment at 100°C has some effect on hardness as shown by Figure

3, but this is probably of no practical significance. The changes are

small and slow. : is possible that changes would be significantly

greater over periods of months or years. It is interesting to note that

the initial rate of change of hardness with time is related to the

phosphorus content.

A number of specimens were heat treated at 200°C because such a treatment is often used for embrittlement relief. The hardness effects of

heating at 200°C are summarized in Figure 4, which indicates that the

hardness may either increase or decrease. In general, the deposits get

harder, but those deposits from the Brenner bath with more than 9.8% P become a little bit softer. Figure 4 is for an 8 hour treatment. Figure

5 shows how the hardness varies with time. For low phosphorus content,

4 - 7% P, the heat treatment is essentially complete within four hours.

At 8.7% P it was complete within eight hours. For high phosphorus deposits from the Brenner bath, the hardness drops during approximately

the first four hours and then returns to approximately its original

hardness during the balance of the first 24 hours.

The deposits from the proprietary solution increased in hardness more

than those from the Brenner solution.

It is generally recognized that maximum hardness of electroless nickel

is obtained by heat treatment at 400°C. Figure 6 shows how the hardness

changes with the time at 400°C. The rate of increase of hardness is

quite rapid at first and then tapers off so that after 1 or 2 hours

there is not much change. The hardness range for deposits heated to
10

400''C for 1/2 hour is 852 to 969 KH^qq. The time needed to obtain the

maximum hardness was not determined, but the data for 20 hours indicates

that 2 hours is not enough, and the rate of change after 2 hours is

quite smal 1

The final hardness does not appear to be closely related to phosphorus

content, but the phosphorus appears to have an effect on the initial

rate of hardness change.

A few specimens were heat treated at 375, 425, and 500°C in order to

determine how critical the temperature is for maximum hardness. These

data are plotted in Figure 7. They indicate that after 20 hours at

375°C, the hardness is not far below the maximum. At 425°C, the low

phosphorus samples showed a markedly lower hardness and the high phosphorus deposit showed virtually no difference compared to the maximum.

These data are quite similar to those of Randin and Hinterman [5].

Thickness Uniformity

The Electroplating Engineering Handbook states: "Electroless plating is

of uniform thickness on all areas of the solid part, regardless of its

shape or geometry." In the context of electroplating this may be a reasonable statement, but it is misleading. Just how misleading was the

subject of some consideration.

The rate of deposition is a function of temperature and solution composition. A systematic variation in either will usually lead to a corresponding variation in thickness. This means that to achieve a uniform deposit

thickness, the average solution composition and temperature everywhere

over the surface must be kept the same. Since this can be very difficult

to achieve, it raises the question of how nonuniform a deposit is likely

to be. The results of a few experiments made during the course of this

project will give a feel of the sort of nonuniformi ty to expect.

The exterior of a one inch diameter brass tube was plated 2 hours without

agitation, while suspended in a horizontal position well off the bottom

of the container. The plated tube was sectioned near its center and

examined microscopically around the circumference. At the bottom the

deposit thickness was 0.68 mil, at the sides it was 0.75 mil, and at the

top it varied from 0.52 to 0.88 mil. This variation at the top was associated with deposit roughness presumably caused by settling of

microscopical sediment formed in the bath. The lower value of 0.52 mil

probably represents the thickness that would have prevailed if there had

been no sediment.

Figure 8 is a photomicrograph of a section of one of two brass bolts

plated for 2 hours in the Brenner bath without agitation and while

suspended by a wire. The plating rate was about 0.6 mil/hr. The

electroless nickel deposit is the layer between the brass substrate and

an overplate of electroplated nickel. The deposit thickness was measured
at the top and bottom of the thread at six different "threads" (12

locations). There was a 6% variation between peaks compared to a 71%

variation between valleys. The average peak to valley thickness ratio

was 2.1. Obviously solution replenishment in the valleys was not as good nor as uniform as at the peaks.

Figure 9 is a section of another bolt plated 2 hours in bath A at a slower rate, about 1/3 that of the bolt in Figure 8, 0.2 mil/hr. Six

valleys varied from 0.38 to 0.40 mil. Six peaks varied from 0.44 to

0.50 mil. The ratio of the two averages was 1.2. The improved throwing power may have been influenced by the bath composition, but it may

also be due to the slower rate of deposition which permitted faster

solution replacement relative to deposition of nickel.

Figure 10 is of a bolt plated near the faster rate in bath A with

agitation from a magnetic stirrer and from solution pumped in and out

of the tank. The thickness ratio of peak to valley is 1.013, hardly

significant. This good throwing power is attributable to appropriate

agitation.

The deposit shown in Figure 11 was on a 4 mil diameter wire plated in

bath A at the same time as the bolt with uniform metal distribution.

It is obvious that the metal distribution is not uniform. The maximum

thickness ratio is 1.25. Apparently the agitation did not even out the

metal distribution on the wire as it did for the bolt. The wire was suspended in the bath in a manner which permitted it to move with the

solution within a revolving agitation pattern. The metal distribution

probably reflects a net motion between the wire and solution resulting

in unequal solution replenishment.
12

Summary

Those coating characteristics which have been considered in this report

are appearance, roughness, hardness, and thickness. These should be

discussed in terms of the process control.

Appearance and roughness can be readily observed and an evaluation is

easily made provided the requirements are adequately stated. Solution

agitation and filtration are important here to prevent settling of

sediment on the work surface. To minimize formation of the sediment,

the bath needs to be properly controlled, primarily by replenishment

of the stabilizers and avoiding the conditions which favor solution

instability such as too high a temperature, too high a pH, too much

hypophosphi te, and too much phosphite. The latter is a matter of the

working life of the bath. Phosphite continuously accumulates and

promotes formation of sediment and bath deterioration.

On the basis of the data given here for two types of baths, of the

data of Graham et al [4], and of that of Randin and Hinterman [5];

several generalizations can be made about the hardness of electroless

nickel deposits.

1) For practical purposes, the as-plated hardness of electroless

nickel phosphorus alloy is independent of the bath and operating

conditions if the deposit is greater than 7-1/2% P. Below about

7% P, the hardness seems to be related to the phosphorus content

and dependent on the particular process used.

2) Heat treatment at 200*^0 can increase the hardness by about 300

units, but it can also decrease the hardness by 30 units. What

happens depends on the type of electroless nickel process and

on the time of heat treatment. Three hours will probably not

be long enough to attain maximum hardness for this temperature

and 8 hours will be more than enough for practical purposes.

3) Maximum hardness is attained by heating at 400°C. For practical

purposes 2 hours of heating is sufficient and 1 hour would

usually suffice. The hardness obtained varies from deposit to

deposit, but the variation appears to be less than 120 units

out of about 925 KHiqoIf the deposits are heated above 400°C, the hardness will drop considerably for low phosphorus content and very much less for high phosphorus

content. The difference is very evident after 20 hours at 425°C.

Tensile strength and ductility are important to applications of electroless nickel. These properties were measured by Graham et al [4] for

deposits with 4-3/4 - 8-3/4% P after heat treatment at 200, 400, 600,

and 750°C. In general these two properties increase with increasing

phosphorus in the as-plated condition and after heating at 200°C. After
13

heating at 400°C, all the deposits are very brittle and quite weak.

To control the properties of electroless nickel, it may be desirable

to control the phosphorus content. This requires chemical analysis

of the deposit and good control of temperature, pH, and bath composition. To assure a low or a high phosphorus content should not

be difficult, to assure an average composition within 1 percentage

point requires more than normal attention to detail.

The control of deposit thickness can offer problems. Usually its

measurement can only be made by microscopical techniques. The thickness can be estimated from the time of plating provided the solution

is kept under close control and the plating rate is determined

independently. One recommended procedure is to plate a coupon simultaneously with plating of the work piece. Appropriate weight and

area measurements of the deposit on the coupon would provide a reasonably good thickness estimate.

Uniformity of coating thickness cannot be assumed. A 2 to 1 variation

is possible. Agitation can even out the metal distribution and it can make matters worse; though, in general, it is probably helpful.
B1b1 iography

14

[1] A. Brenner and G.E. Riddell , Proc. Am. Electroplaters' Soc,

33, 23 (1946).

A. Brenner and G.E. Riddell, Proc. Am. Electroplaters' Soc,

34, 156 (1947).

[2] "Symposium on Electroless Nickel Plating", ASTM Special Technical

Publication, No. 265, 29 (1959).

[3] "Symposium on Electroless Nickel Plating", ASTM Special Technical

Publication, No. 265, 16 (1959).

[4] A.H. Graham, R.W. Lindsay, and H.J. Read, J. Electrochem. Soc,

112 , 401 (1965).

[5] J. P. Randin and H.E. Hinterman, Plating, 54, 529 (1967).

[6] A.K. Graham, Ed., Electroplating Engineering Handbook, Van Nostrand

Reinhold Co., New York, 3rd ed., 497 (1971).
TABLE 1

Operating Conditions for Electroless Nickel Deposits

Deposit Type of Temp. Deposition Deposition Phosphorus Page

No. Solution pH °C Time Rate* Content Reference

Hours mil/hr of Deposit

Per Cent

1 Brenner 6.6-4.2 96 0.65 2

2

II 4.5-4.2 96 2

3

II 4.5-4.2 96 2

4

II 4.5-4.2 96 0.6 M 2

5

II 4.5-4.2 96 6 0.75-0.51 2

6

II 4.5-4.2 96 2

7

II 4.5-4.2 96 11.1 5

8

II 6.6-4.3 96 6 0.95-0.63

13

II 6.6-4.5 95 5 0.5 M 7.1 4

14 II 4.5-4.2 96 6 0.78-0.45 10.1 5

15 11 6.6-5.0 96 5 0.8 M 7.1

16 II 6.6-5.5 96 6 4.5 2

18 u 6.6-4.2 4-1/2 0.6 M 9.4

19 II 6.6-4.5 96 5-1/2 0.5 M 8.7 5, 7 20 11 6.6-4.4 50 71 0.03 M 12.5 4, 7

21 II 6.6-4.3 70 21 0.1 M 11.1 4, 7 22 II 6.6-4.4 60 44 0.06 M 11.9 4, 7 23 II 6.6-4.3 80 9-1/2 0.2 M 10.0 4, 7 24 II 5.6-4.5 96 7-1/2 0.5 M 9.4 2

27 II 6.6- 96 4

34 Bath A 4.6 85 7 0.53 6.8 2

35 II 4.6 85 6 0.52 2

36 II 4.6 85 9 0.54 7.2 2

37 II J , c Ol c nu 7fi . / 0

o

c 38 Brenner 4.5 95 6 0.36 9.7 2

39 II 4.0 95 9 0.22 11.4 2

40 II 6.6-3.8 50 136 0.022

41 II 4.6 86 5 0.54 2

42 Bath A 4.7 86 4-1/2 0.57 7.4 2

43 II 4.7 86 4 0.55 8.2 2

44 ii 4.6 86 5 0.54 8.0 2
TABLE 1 (Continued)

Operating Conditions for Electroless Nickel Deposits

Deposit Type of Temp. Deposition Deposition Phosphorus Page

No. Solution pH °C Time Rate* Content Reference

Hours mil/hr of Deposit

Per Cent

45 Bath A 4.7 86 5-1/2 0.57 9.6 2

46 4.8 86 3-1/4 0.65 3

47 4.5 86 5 0.50 3

48 4.5 85 5 0.47 3

49 ~ "

, 4.5 86 5 0.39 10.3 3

50 4.8 86 - 5 0.43 10.0 3

52 4.7 86 9 0.54-0.29 3, 5

53 " 4.7 86 12-1/4 0.28 7.0 3, 6

54 " 4.7 86 12 0.27 7.2 3, 6

55 ". 4.7 86 5-1/3 0.56 8.7 3, 6

56 4.7 86 5 0.60 10.1 3, 6

* - Micrometer measurements are indicated by an M. Other thickness

values were determined from weignt and area measurements.
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Figure 8 - Photomicrograph of cross section of brass bolt plated with

electroless nickel in Brenner bath without agitation at

0.6 mil/hr. Overplated with nickel. 90X

Peak to valley thickness ratio is 2.
Figure 9 - Photomicrograph of cross section of brass bolt plated with

electroless nickel in Bath A without agitation at 0.2 mil/hr.

Overplated with nickel. 90X

Peak to valley thickness ratio is 1.2.
Figure 10 - Photomicrograph of cross section of brass bolt plated with

electroless nickel in Bath A with agitation at 0.6 mil/hr.

Overplated with nickel. 90X

Peak to valley thickness ratio is 1.01.
Figure 11 - Photomicrograph of cross section of 4 mil copper wire plated

with electroless nickel in Bath A with agitation at 0.6 mil/hr.

Overplated with nickel. 470X

Maximum thickness ratio is 1.25.

APPENDIX A

TECHNICAL BRIEF

BANDED STRUCTURE OF ELECTROLESS NICKEL

Fielding Ogburn and Christian E. Johnson

Metallurgy Division

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

The etched cross section of an electroless nickel (Ni-P)

deposit generally is characterized by narrow and/or wide striations formed by variations in the degree of etching. These

are usually attributed to variations in the phosphorus content

1 2 of the deposit. The evidence cited, however, is meager and

is based on appearance after treatment at 700C for 1 hour.

Some of these deposits show striations caused by variations

of the population of dark particles, which were presumed to

be Ni^P precipitated during the heat treatment. There is no

reason to doubt this explanation of the striations, but it

would be more satisfying to have more direct evidence. Such

evidence is given here.

Figure 1 is a photomicrograph of the etched cross section

of an electroless nickel deposit, as plated, of the Ni-P type

having wide striations. It was deposited from an acid bath

containing hydroxyacetic acid, similar to the original formu3 lation of Brenner and Riddell. The etching solution was 1 part nitric acid and 3 parts acetic acid. The Knoop diamond

indentations were used as index marks for the electron probe

analyses. Figure 2 is a photomicrograph of the same area with

an electron probe trace of the phosphorus content superimposed.
-2-

(Notc the Knoop diamond indentations visible in Figure 2.)

Each dot in the row across the center indicates the location

of a measurement by the electron probe. Tlic beam size is

actually about 0.5 ym in diameter and the measured X-rays are

emittc'd from an area two or three times that diameter. The

curve made up of dots on the upper part of the micrograph, is

a plot of the phosphorus content. A linear scale for the

phospliorus content is on the ordinate with the maximum concen

tration on the curve at about 8 wt.%. Zero percent level is

indicated by the row of dots in the lower left corner.

Comparii^on of the two figures indicates a reasonable inverse correlation between phospliorus content and the degree

o f c t ch in g .

' "

. More precise measurements were made on either side of

the lower tips of the four indentations. From left to right,

the raeasurenicnts at each location are as follows:

Wt . %

Location v Ni_ P_

1 92.4 6.6

2 9 2.1 7.1

:

'

' ^ 3 92.8 7.8

4 : 93. 8 7.0

5 93.0 7.6

6. 94. 1 6.7

7' 93.3 7.3

- 8 93.0 7.5

Each of these values for phosphorus had, before rounding, a standard deviation of 0.7%, of the phosphorus concentration.

Comparing these data with Figure 1 shows again the inverse

relation of phosphorus content with depth of etching.
-3-

The relation between phosphorus content arid etching rate of the asplatcd alloy suggests a possible weans of estiiiiating the phosphorus.

This work was carried out as part of a project supported by the

Weapons Laboratory - RIA, Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois.

References

^ Electroplating I-ngineering Handbook , Tnird Edition, Edited by A. K.

Graham, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1971, p. 498.

2

A. W. Goldenstein, W. Nostoker, and F. Schossberger , Jr., Electrochem.

Soc. lOA , 104 (19S7)

3

A. Brenner and G. E. Riddell, Proc. ^"uner. Electroplaters ' Soc. 34 ,

156 (1947).
-4-

Fi fures

Figure 1. Pliotomicrograph of cross section of electroless nickel deposit.

JCnoop indentations were made for indexing purposes.

Figure 2. Electron probe trace of phosphorus content across cross section

of electroless nickel deposit. Zero percent phosphorus is

indicated by white dots in lower left corner. Maximum value

is about 8 wt.% phosphorus. Row of dots across center indicates position of each measurement.
ror.>.: M9S-!'-'A CI-"'!' uTi. DEPT. OF COMM. j 1. P 'J b LIC .\T !0\" OR REPORT NO. 2. Gov't Accclsioh

SJBLiOGKAPHIC DATA 1 ^^iEET i KRSTR 7.^-?4n

3. Recipient's Accession No.

4. Tli L.R AND SuBTITLH

EFFECTS OF ELECTROLESS NICKEL PROCESS

VARIABLES ON QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

5. Publication Date

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTF^OR(S)

Fipldina Oaburn and Christian E. Johnson

8, Performing Organi7.ation

NBSIR 73-240

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREA:J OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF CONLMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/ Work Unit No. NBS Proiect 3120467

11. Contract/Grant No.

12, Sponsoring Orf;anii'.ai ion Name and Address Research Directorate

Thomas J. Rodman Laboratory

Hock Island Arsenal

Rock Island, Illinois 61201

13. Type of Report & Period

Covered

r 1 iia 1 Mriv-rh 197? - .limp 1973

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

ii'. SUPFI.EMENTARV NOTES

f. AP.STUACT (A 200-svord or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant I bibll'j^;r jpfiy vr liter.uurc survey, mention it here.) I

Dc-pjsition rate, phosphorus content, hardness, appearance, and metal distribution

cire reported for deposits from two acid, hypophosphi te type electroless nickel

baths, one proprietary and one non-proprietary. The baths were operated under a variety of conditions with variations of composition. Extensive data is given on the relation of deposit hardness to phosphorus content and to heat treatment at

'00, 200, and 400= C.

17. KEY VORDS (Alphabet ical order, separated by semicolons)

chemical nickel; coatings; electro'"ess nickel; metal coatings; nickel;

nic kel -phospnorus

18. A V A 1 L A B 1 LHT^TA 1 E M EN

T

UNL IMIT ED.

EOK OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTION. DO NOT RELEASE

TO N i IS.

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(THIS REPORT)

UNCL ASSIFIED

21. NO. OF PAGES

32

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